Big Adventure 650 Bikes: Kawasaki Versys or Suzuki V-Strom 650 XT

We compare the latest 650cc adventure bikes selling in India.

Kawasaki or Suzuki? Your choices are increasing by the day.

(Photo: The Quint)

Adventure bikes are becoming hot in India. Right from the Royal Enfield Himalayan to the Triumph Tiger 1200 XcX, buyers can choose from varying price spectrum. The newest addition to this segment is the Suzuki V-Strom 650 that has been priced at 7.46 lakh (ex-showroom) in the country.

The 650cc lineup is an untapped space for riders, with the other notable bike being the Kawasaki Versys 650 which sells for under Rs 6 lakh in the market.

This has forced us to take a look what separates the V-Strom from the Versys, and does the price difference of almost a lakh offer the buyers anything more with the Versys? This comparison is likely to help you make that decision.

Design

Both these bikes have a different approach with respect to its looks. The Versys 650 gets an aggressive touch with the front part raised higher to complement the low-height seating which is partitioned into two for the rider and pillion. The eagle-eyed headlamps shows its imposing stature, with the wind protector acting as the pivot between riding short and long distances.

Even at the bottom, the engine unit feels a lot busier than what the V-Strom offers. There’s more action in the Versys 650, even when it is standing still on the side. The handlebar is also at a higher position than the V-Strom 650. All this ensures that a tall rider will have a ball on what the Kawasaki has to offer, making its over handling effective.

The tail lamps on the Suzuki V-Strom 650 XT. 

With the V-Strom, Suzuki is giving you its tried-and-tested formula in the adventure segment. It’ll never growl for attention but let the engine and its overall delivery do the talking. It builds a deceptive perception, which changes when a person is either standing by its side or sitting on it.

V-Strom has a subtle design with a tall frame. 

That surprise element is always a good for the rider, who gets time to acclimatise to its two-faced nature. The exhaust on the V-Strom 650 is much bigger than what the Versys 650 offers and the rear portion in neatly covered up, leaving ample space for the wind to burst through for better riding aerodynamics. It’s subtle in its approach and some people might like its simplicity.

Power And Safety

The engine types vary on both these bikes. With the Suzuki V-Strom, you’re getting a 645cc V-Twin engine, while Kawasaki packs the Versys 650 with a 649cc parallel twin engine. These ensure that the V-Strom and Versys 650 throw out 71HP and 69HP of power, with 62NM and 64NM of torque respectively.

The engines of both the bikes are mated to a 6-speed gearbox. 

We haven’t got a chance to ride either of these two bikes yet but going by the raw numbers, both Kawasaki and Suzuki seem to have packed in a lot of punch and brute force.

The laidback riding stance on the V-Strom 650 XT makes long journeys possible. 

It’s good to see that ABS is a standard on both the bikes, however, none of them are switchable, which might not please the off-road fanatics. The disc brakes used by both of them are 300mm (front) and 250mm at the back.

Kawasaki somehow is using 17-inch wheels on both the sides, while Suzuki has opted for 19-inch on the front, 17-inch at the back.

More Features

Kawasaki is offering a 21-litre fuel tank on the Versys 650, while Suzuki V-Strom comes with a 20-litre tank for petrol. This is adequate enough for an adventure tourer, preventing you from making regular halts at the petrol station.

You’re going to be riding bikes that weigh (without fuel) at 216kg, and it’s better to have the bikes to be muscular that results in better riding performance. The V-Strom XT comes equipped with two-stage traction control system. It’s impressive that by selling the V-Strom XT in India, you’re getting a readymade off-road two-wheeler.

The Versys 650 is one of the more capable adventure tourer in the market.

There are some features that make the V-Strom XT a better proposition for adventure riding.

Which is Better Value

So, there you have it. Suzuki V-Strom XT claims to give you more power, better off-road handling, but a marginally smaller fuel tank. It’s more electronic-friendly than the Versys 650 but that also comes at an add-on cost of around Rs 1 lakh.

Suzuki could appeal to buyers with its expansive service support in the country, something that’s been scarce with Kawasaki, ever since it parted ways from Bajaj. Both pack 650cc engine, with a neck-to-neck performance on offer.

It all comes down to how the buyers projects the purpose of his ride. Also, if looks really matter to you than choose between the subtle machismo of the V-Strom XT or the aggressive stance of the Versys 650.